The U.S. Government's STEMM Workforce

The U.S. Government's STEMM Workforce

About a quarter of the federal government is composed of people with science, technology, engineering, mathematical and medical (STEMM) skills who forecast the weather, research plant and crop health, analyze the economy, protect us against cyber attacks and much more. As the demand for STEMM talent increasesâ€”the Bureau of Labor Statisticsâ€™ Economics and Statistics Administration projects the need nationwide to increase by 24.1 percent between 2010 and 2020â€”and the supply shrinks, the ability of the government to fill critical STEMM positions is at risk.

In addition, there is a lack of awareness among the general public, and therefore among students in STEMM fields, about the many federal opportunities for qualified candidates. Someone who goes to veterinary school, for example, is well aware of the positions available at an animal hospital but may not think about the numerous veterinary science positions at 18 federal agencies, including the departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Interior. For instance, veterinarians might work to certify the health of animals and byproducts for import and export, oversee quarantine, help with the detection of agro-terrorism or bioterrorism threats, work on international teams and overseas programs, or monitor wildlife on federal lands.

This graphic is from the Partnership for Public Service and Booz Allen Hamilton report, The Biggest Bang Theory: How to get the most out of the competitive search for STEMM talent (http://ourpublicservice.org/STEMM)